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Photographer and film student Arjun Kamath has shared a poignant photo series called ‘Coming Out’ on his Facebook, exploring the persecution faced by gay and lesbian people in India.

The fictional narrative shares the story of two women coming out to the world, from the initial moment of love and bravery, shown through the character Maitreyi leading Alpana out into a forest, to a horrific symbolic ending.

The lovers emerge from the closet, believing that the forest is a safe place.

‘It’s a free world…’

(Picture: Arjun Kamath)

Maitreyi and Alpana find comfort in each other, and start to publicly express their love.

‘They had finally come out of the closet and now there was no looking back.’

(Picture: Arjun Kamath)

They relax, and start to play and explore their new world.

(Picture: Arjun Kamath)

Maitreyi gets a thorn in her foot, and Alpana comforts her.

(Picture: Arjun Kamath)

They’re blessed by Parivala, a woman who ‘had found freedom in the forest a few days ago’.

(Picture: Arjun Kamath)

But suddenly, the couple are ambushed by Rakshasas – the word for a type of evil in Hindi mythology – who believe that the only acceptable love is that between a man and a woman.

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‘The love that brought them together, was the love that tore them apart,’ writes Arjun.

(Picture: Arjun Kamath)

They drag Maitreyi and Alpana through the forest with chains.

(Picture: Arjun Kamath)

Force them back into the closet.

(Picture: Arjun Kamath)

And set them on fire.

(Picture: Arjun Kamath)

The photo series has resonated worldwide, with thousands people liking and sharing Arjun’s Facebook album. It’s a disturbing reminder that no matter how accepting we think the modern world is, there is still so much violent persecution faced by LGBT people around the world.

He told metro.co.uk: ‘I firmly believe that people be allowed to be in love whoever they want without being judged.

‘When you make a person feel like they’ve committed a crime because they’re in love with a person of the same gender, I think it’s primitive thinking and totally unacceptable. I have friends who are gay and therefore the issue resonated with me.

‘I felt as an artist I needed to share my voice with the world. India is changing for the better, but certain issues like homosexuality are still not considered normal and gay relationships are despised.’